This page gives basic descriptions of the professions and lists many of the grants they have awarded in the past year, which can give an idea of the types of research being done in this area. It also has links to some fascinating guide books:

50-State listing of laws relating to wills and probate. Most states have web pages in plainer language on these subjects. Use the tips in Appendix C, Finding specific information on US States, to find them.

Under what circumstances would a family have no veto over conducting an autopsy?

What do medical examiners do at the scene of a homicide?

When must deaths be reported to a medical examiner?

If someone dies of an apparent heart attack during a bank robbery, must the medical examiner be informed?

Description:

This is a 53 page coroners manual that covers a number of situations, including:

Types of Deaths to be Reported to the Medical Examiner

Deaths Occuring in Emergency Rooms

SIDS Deaths

Non-Homicide – Scene Investigation

Homicide – Scene Investigation

Indigent Remains

Personal Property Procedure

Unless you notice specific references to Washington State statutes, it is probably safe to assume that this manual’s policies and procedures are mostly applicable to other jurisdictions. You can find medical examiner’s manuals for other jurisdictions by visiting usa.gov and searching (“medical examiners” manual)

FBI summary of how Jean Crump forged death certificates and even staged full funerals to collect insurance benefits on living persons.

Story Idea:

An interesting story idea might be to match up people who want to disappear with someone using the fake death scam to collect insurance money, with the policy benefit being the price of ending one’s original identity.

Although the Wired interview isn’t government information by any stretch of the imagination, this US Marshall’s press release shows how a government document can be a good start to finding related information.

Brief item from the FBI how a man was reported dead on a trip to Malaysia and wasn’t caught until he tried to renew his US passport in Indonesia five years later. More background can be found by doing a search engine search for Vij Misir.